THE ELY FAMILY
Wilmot was not behind her sister townships in a liberal contribution of her loyal sons to aid in putting down the rebellion. Notable among her patriot families was that of Aaron Ely, which consisted of five brothers and a half-brother as follows: DANIEL ELY, the first soldier to enlist from Wilmot township, was enrolled as a private in Co. I, 6th Pa. Reserves, April 22, ’61; he was wounded in the right arm at Antietam, also participated in the battles of Dranesville, Second Bull Run and South Mountain; was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Cops and discharged June 9, ’64. JAMES ELY and JEFFERSON ELY were privates in Co. K, 58th P.V. RICHARD H. ELY served as a private in Co. C., 57th P. V. JOSEPH ELY was a member of the 55th Ill. Vol. GEORGE PRESTON (the half-brother) served as a private first in Co. D, 171st P. V. then in Co. K, 58th P.V. He was killed at the Chapin Farm, Oct. 2, 1864. JOHN P. GRANT, a brother-in-law of Daniel Ely, who was a member of Co. A, 141st P.V., was killed at Chancellorsville. He was the first man in his company and the second in the regiment to fall by the hand of the enemy. He was twenty-one years of age and the only son of Wm. Grant of Wilmot. He was a good soldier and never flinched when duty called him.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
